Denny Prokopos

Denny Prokopos was the very first black belt awarded by Eddie Bravo, and subsequently the first black belt generated from Bravo’s 10th Planet system. Denny is also one of the most talented No Gi Jiu Jitsu practitioners of his generation, having won several important tournaments such as the World No Gi Championship (2007 brown belt) and the FILA World Grappling tournament.

Denny Prokopos Jiu Jitsu

Nickname: “300” which probably came up due to Denny’s Greek ancestry (300 is a famous comic book/film about the battle of Battle of Thermopylae between Persians and Spartans). This has not been confirmed by Denny and is a mere assumption.

Main Achievements:

World Nogi Champion (2007 brown belt)

FILA Grappling World Champion (2010)

NAGA Arnold Grappling Champion (2009)

World Nogi Bronze Medallist (2009)

Grapplers Quest 3rd Place (2008)

Pan American Bronze Medallist (2004 blue belt)

USA Grappling Open Bronze Medallist (2007)

Weight Division: Featherweight (70kg/154lbs)

Team/Association: 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu

Denny Prokopos Biography

Denny Prokopos was born in San Francisco around 1988. He was interested in Pro Wrestling as a child, and it was looking for Pro Wrestling tapes at a video store that he found out about the UFC. He bought a few tapes of the fighting organization’s first tournaments at the store and as he saw the footage he was amazed by Royce Gracie‘s prowess inside the cage. He was so fascinated by the Gracie Jiu Jitsu style that he managed to convince his parents to let him train Jiu Jitsu (who vehemently opposed to it in the beginning). He was 12 years old when he started and his first coach was Charles Gracie.

As Denny got more involved with Jiu Jitsu, he started preferring the Nogi aspect of the game; this was when he sought out Eddie Bravo for private classes in this style. Eddie at the time had already made a name for himself in the Nogi community and was a great believer of the benefits of training without the kimono. Denny ended up leaving his previous instructor and turning his full attention to Eddie Bravo’s method, he was around 16 at the time.

In highschool Denny Prokopos also added wrestling to his resume, competing all throughout secondary School with the exception of the last year due to a bad injury that prevented him from training. He ended up quitting the academic life to focus solely on Jiu Jitsu training and competing, that hard work and dedication paid off with several important victories at a national and international stage, culminating with his black belt award in 2009. In that same year he was part of the American National Team at the FILA Grappling Championship, being coached by Ricardo Liborio in preparation for the tournament (a competition he won), he has also worked extensively with Jake Shields.

Crazy because he's a legit Machado blackbelt and submitted Royler in competition. That plus continuing to compete, and being the trainer to many accomplished practitioners and fighters, seems he'd deserve a page.

Not a BJJ legend? I guess tapping out Royler in ADCC competition is something easily done (seriously)? He trained with a Gi until his Blackbelt with the best of the Machado brothers (in my humble opinion), Jean Jaques. As far as opinions that I don’t agree with, grandmaster Helio Gracie (Rest In Paradise) believed we shouldn’t have sex other than to procreate, and that any Blackbelt not given by himself or his sons was not a BJJ Blackbelt (I guess this includes Carlson, Carlos and Count Coma). Some views I defiantly don’t agree with. Should he be excluded as well? Who cares if Bravo smokes weed? If he isn’t a Christian should he be excluded, how far do we go with morality versus BJJ prowess? The guy is THE most sought after instructor on the Internet, period. He “doesn’t deserve a page” was easy for you to throw out there. What have you or your instructors/campmates accomplished? Tapping out Rickson? Humility is the true armor of any warrior…evolve.

First of all, Eddie is a BJJ guy. He trained every day with a GI under Jean Jaques Machado. If you think tapping out Royler Gracie in a ADCC match is a fluke, you obviously know nothing of Jiu-Jitsu or the kind of Alien Monster techniques and experience Royler has. Bravo has revolutionized teaching martial arts in a System format. Names for positions/moves, how they blend in to eachother etc. I am a BJJ Blackbelt, from Brazil, and while I was in L.A. I trained at 10th planet. Eddie was a great instructor and a great guy, very funny and friendly. His students are incredibly high level at No Gi. Even his purple and blue belts. I don’t understand why everyone hates on this guy so much. If you met him and/or trained with him, your opinion would certainly change.

BTW. Eddie still rolls with anyone who shows up at his gym, unlike many other superstars of the grappling world. Check out the footage of him rolling with Marcello Garcia at Garcia’s gym in NYC on YouTube. You can pick up a lot of techniques just watching the two sparring. give the guy a chance, your No-Gi game will definitely improve.

Yeah, I was disappointed Eddie had no page. Not surprised, but disappointed. This is about JJ not second hand opinions on personality or beliefs. The dudes paid his dues, dedicated his life to JJ. Its ridiculous how people don't know him or even try 10planet and form such a negative opinion. He tapped a legend in the game. There are no lucky punches in JJ.